This extreme dexterity is of course only acquired by long practice, and it must be admitted the labour is very severe; but this is moderated by the time the men have for repose between the charges. The first process in discharging or drawing is for one or two of the men to relieve the screws of the mouth-pieces of the retorts about to be discharged, by giving three or four rapid turns; another man instantly gives a knock to each of the cross bars to disengage them from the ears of the lid, and at the same time strikes the lid a blow with a piece of iron or hammer, in order to break the luting, and a light is immediately applied to prevent explosion, which would be likely to crack the retort if of clay. For want of this precaution, many lamentable accidents have happened through the gas exploding when combined with atmospheric air. The men then lift off the cross bar and screw of each retort, placing them on the ground, and then each seizes hold of a lid in both hands, lifting it by the projecting ears, and placing it aside to cool, ready for luting for another charge. [Illustration: Fender. Wheelbarrow. Bus.] Three of the stokers then take up their _iron rakes_, which are simply rods of ¾-inch iron, about 12 feet long, having a handle at one end; the other end being turned at right angles is flat, about 6 inches long, 2 inches wide, and ½-inch thick. These are inserted in the retort, and the red-hot coke drawn to the mouth, whence it drops into the coke vault, where there is a man ready to extinguish by throwing water on it; or when there is no vault the coke drops into _iron barrows_ placed ready to receive it, and wheeled rapidly away when the charge is withdrawn. If the coke were not immediately extinguished it would smoulder, and the surface become covered with earthy ash, and detract from its appearance and value. [Illustration: Rake. Clinkering Spud. Scoop. Fire Shovel. Key. Auger.] Formerly, in charging retorts, the operation being comparatively very protracted, there was a considerable loss of gas, in addition to the time and extra fatigue to the men. In order to remedy these inconveniences, a method has been contrived for depositing the whole charge in the retort at once; for this purpose an _iron scoop_ is used, this being a semi-cylinder of sheet iron, from 8 to 10 feet long and 10 or 12 inches diameter, with a cross handle at the end to assist in lifting and turning it round to empty the coals in the retort. [Illustration: Shovel. Clinking Bat.]